Ground Source Heat

What is Ground source heat?

 

A ground source heat pump system harnesses natural heat from underground by pumping water through it. The heat pump then increases the temperature, and the heat is used to provide home heating or hot water. 

The pump needs electricity to run, but the idea is that it uses less electrical energy than the heat it produces.

The heat pump performs the same role as a boiler does in a central heating system, but it uses ambient heat from the ground rather than burning fuel to generate heat.

 

How does it work?

 

A mixture of water and anti-freeze is pumped around the ground loop and absorbs the naturally occurring heat stored in the ground. The pump itself consists of an evaporator, a compressor and a condenser - together these take the heat from the water mixture, transfers it to your domestic heating system and increases the temperature in the process. A ground source heat pump increases the temperature from the ground by between one and a half and four times – so if the ground temperature is 12°C, the output would be between 18 and 48°C).

This heat can then be used in a radiator, hot water or in an underfloor heating system. Whether you'll need an additional back-up heating system will depend on the individual home.

 

Get in touch if you would like to know more about Ground source heat.